KINGDOM BUSINESSES
© Morris Ruddick
Whenever
God is on the move, people will start popularizing terms in attempts
to define the new dimensions of what the Spirit of the Lord is
releasing. Groups will shape terms to fit their own horizons.
Well-intentioned responses tend to lend themselves to past perspectives
and superficial renderings of the new God-given dimension before
it has been given the opportunity to fully bloom. The result,
unfortunately, is more of the same with a new twist rather than
facilitating the entrance of a new paradigm.
The wealth transfer is a case in point. Notions of the wealth
transfer have ranged from broad waves of prosperity among believers
to a class of money-making spiritual superstars. The assumption
for each is that the resulting mega-contributions will suddenly
trigger the release of all the capital needed to complete the
spread of the Gospel.
We are indeed in a time when the wisdom tied to the economic and
community dimensions found in God’s Word are being released
and integrated with the spiritual. Yet, simultaneously other key
and interacting dimensions, such as the Body coming together in
unity and into the full knowledge of the Lord, will give shape
and focus to the new paradigm. All that, as we approach the clash
of all ages spoken of in Revelations, that provides a big-picture
context to the pathway before us.
The term Kingdom company or Kingdom business is very key to this
converging move of God meshing the economic and community with
the spiritual. Unfortunately, like the wealth transfer, it is
a term that is being embraced in ways that reduce its strategic
significance.
Far too often “Kingdom company” has been coined to
reflect any believer-owned business. In some cases, it is being
employed to describe companies without either customers or a cash
flow — with well-meaning owners promoting wonderful visions
of their good intentions to support a wide array of worthy ministries.
There’s nothing wrong with vision or good intentions; nor
do I want to cast aspersion against believer-operated startup
companies. Every believer in business ought to have a role in
advancing the Kingdom of God and being a Light in the darkness.
But a Kingdom company involves more.
A Kingdom business involves a calling and cost, a process, a timing,
and an impact.
The Calling and the Cost
The calling for a Kingdom business owner is tied to a throne-room
agenda involving the utilization of the business. Aside from a
handful of believer-owned enterprises, like those of Robert LeTourneau
and Stanley Tam who established enterprises with 95 percent of
profits going into missionary activities, most Kingdom businesses
will involve more than being a funnel for large ratios of their
revenues. Discerning the throne-room agenda tied to the calling
will require spending significant time in the presence of the
Lord. That means spending significant time in God’s Word
and in prayer as the Lord progressively unveils the wisdom for
the steps needed to turn the vision into reality.
William Danker’s 1971 classic, “Profit for the Lord,”
has recently been brought back into print. It provides the model
of the Moravians who, in the early 1700s, began planting community
businesses. Their business enterprises became the center of community
activity, employment and Truth in what was then remote areas ranging
from Pennsylvania to Surinam to Africa. Not to be confused with
communal models, or those like the Amish who were fleeing wickedness
and establishing self-contained communities, the Moravians led
the way in becoming integral contributing leaders of the communities
in which they settled. They fostered the biblical premises of
private ownership, a work ethic, opportunity and community responsibility
with enterprises that have endured to this day. They were forerunners
in the practical integration and utilization of spiritual, economic
and community capital.
Today, initiatives led by believers like Mike Bundock in the UK,
Bob Horton in Canada, as well as our own God’s economy program
(see my recently released book “God’s Economy, Israel
and the Nations”) are planting businesses among believers
in areas of poverty, persecution and distress. These new business-owners
in turn are taking the scriptural principles and truths, that
make their businesses possible, to their employees and neighbors
and becoming community builders.
Yet, there is a cost to the calling. Being entrusted with a Kingdom
business will comprise a cost tied to the steps toward the fulfillment
of the vision. The cost is not tied to the bruises or scars resulting
from the bottom dropping out in a relationship or a venture gone
south that may have been the catalyst to the calling. Nor is the
cost tied to the wakeup call. There may be a cost tied to the
bumps or the wakeup call — but that is not the cost of the
calling.
The cost of the Kingdom business calling is in the disciplined
obedience required to exercise the dynamic of dominion that paves
the way for new paradigms — which in turn involves faithful
effort and implementation that takes vision into the realm of
reality. This is a process that cannot be bypassed.
Yet, overlooking this process seems to be the basis for a statement
I’ve heard on more occasions than I care to recount. That
statement has essentially questioned the “desirability of
doing business with select members from within the Body.”
This sad indictment is typically the result of those who are high
on vision and short on results, excellence, dependability and
the sacrificial work ethic required to overcome obstacles, prevail
and become participators in the God-given dynamic of dominion.
I’m not knocking vision — it’s a central factor
in the equation for a genuine Kingdom business. But I am big on
excellence and on believers paying the cost for what they step
out in faith to do. The standard for any believer in business
should be the type of excellence that goes the extra mile and
makes the needed sacrifices that honors the Lord.
The Process
The process will involve two operational believer-owned business
categories before a business can be classified as a Kingdom business.
It’s important to understand each category and to be found
faithful during the time of operating in each sphere. Each is
a calling in its own right. Likewise, it is important to know
that it is God who grants promotion and the principles of operating
in each sphere are ones that cannot be circumvented. The first
is that of a Christian-in-business.
Christian-in-Business. This is the category of business that enables
the believer to enter a partnership with the Lord, to support
his or her family and provide an honest service, trade or product
for the customers they serve. It assumes the business has customers
and is cash-flowing! Otherwise, it is a startup that hasn’t
yet gotten off the ground.
A Christian-in-business goes beyond the basics in supporting their
local congregation, the poor and afflicted, and other outreaches.
It is run with the highest ethical standards and goes the extra
mile to nurture the satisfaction needed to keep customers returning.
The manner in which the owner or owners operate the business presents
a good witness to employees, customers and their congregation.
Christian-Run Business. The next category of a believer in business
is a Christian-run business. These businesses entail a purpose.
They go beyond the level of being a good witness and making an
impact on their employees, customers and congregation. They likewise
don’t overlook the basics as they serve.
They reach out. They mobilize and serve. Christian-run businesses
are involved in initiatives that go beyond the sphere of activities
defined by their basic business. The owners are community-oriented
and involved. They are catalysts for positive change. They give
back to the community; and their example is a model that encourages
and provides programs that enables their employees to also serve
in this way.
This category of Christian business-operators and owners will
be recognized as community builders among believers and non-believers
alike. They are the salt and light of the world that Jesus spoke
about (Matthew 5:13, 14). They adhere to the principle outlined
in 1 Timothy 6:17, 18: “Let those who are rich in this world
… do good, that they be rich in good works, generous and
ready to share.” Their good works provide a witness that
cannot be denied: “Conduct yourselves honorably among non-believers,
so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your
honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.”
1 Peter 2:12
A good litmus test for a Christian-in-business is “how do
they serve their customers and employees and congregation?”
The litmus test for a Christian-run business is “how is
it serving its community?”
A Kingdom business involves this — and more. For a Kingdom
business, the issue is “what impact is it having to advance
God’s agendas and His Kingdom?” The issue for the
one at the helm of a Kingdom business is never one of ambition,
or the need for recognition, position or ownership. It is a calling
— a high calling. While there is a process involved for
those called to operate Kingdom businesses, the telling evidence
of presumption is when the zeal and the basics don’t line
up — and the result is a reputation that causes other believers
to want to avoid doing business with them.
The Timing
More often than not, there is a timing factor involved with a
throne-room initiative that marks a Kingdom business. The timing
of throne-room initiatives cannot be forced. Joseph’s promotion
could only be released by God’s intervention.
Joseph was faithful, often beyond levels of normal human endurance,
at each stage in his tenure in Egypt. During his time as a slave
in Potipher’s house and his time in prison, Genesis 39 tells
us that Joseph was already God’s ambassador whose vision
for what was to come was tempered by his willingness to pay the
cost of waiting in diligence and faithfulness. His promotion brought
him authority and power. Yet those attributes were in strong evidence
long before his promotion because they came from within: “the
Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man, and everyone
saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that he did to
prosper.” Genesis 39:2-4
The Impact
A Kingdom business has a purpose that goes beyond its benevolence
and community outreach.
Without skirting the requirements for a Christian-in-business
and a Christian-run business, a Kingdom business will be the outworking
of the unique calling of the person at its helm. Foundational
to its purpose is to make a unique impact, through its basic business
objectives, in advancing the Kingdom of God. Similarly, impacting
the Kingdom will very often involve a legacy that will transcend
the generation of which the Kingdom business is a part.
Kingdom Business
So, what is it, in practical terms, that is the most defining
characteristic of a Kingdom business? That answer is uniquely
connected to the Kingdom business owner or owners.
Yet, as this whole move of God in the marketplace starts coming
into focus and gaining momentum — we have those who are
debating the issue of whether a purposeful Kingdom initiative
involving business is a business or mission enterprise. It’s
neither — it’s a calling with its own purpose. God
never intended nor does Scripture support the dichotomy between
the spiritual and the rest of life for God’s people.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — and the principles outlined in
Deuteronomy — support the premise of God-centered, entrepreneurial
communities. They support the integration of the spiritual, the
economic and community.
We likewise have those who sense the call and have a vision and
sometimes even have a company — who are expending great
time and effort on the conference circuit, that perhaps they should
be spending on their knees. That is by no means a disparagement
of marketplace conferences. I recall my first talk on the Joseph
Calling almost a decade ago, how it released, encouraged and mobilized
those with this calling who never had it articulated in that way.
Groups like the ICCC, Generals International, Global Harvest Ministries
and people like Os Hillman, Rich Marshall and Barbara Wentroble
are doing an incredible job with the conferences they hold in
paving the way for this move of God.
At the other extreme of those searching for direction for their
calling are those who have been isolated from recognizing that
their calling is tied to a move of God — who simply need
to be refreshed and encouraged, as they have been faithful in
paving new ground. There is something about recognizing that they
are not alone. There is something about realizing they are a part
of something significant in God’s agendas that is both liberating
and a means to take the step to the next level.
The Distinguishing Characteristic: Ten Times Better
Those called to operate Kingdom businesses fit into the category
of those I describe in the chapter titled “Kings, Rulers
and Leaders,” in my “God’s Economy” book.
They are modern-day Josephs.
With a calling paralleling that of Joseph the patriarch, today’s
Josephs are kings — and you can't be a king for the Kingdom
if you’re driven by soulish issues. A Kingdom company has
got to have a genuinely called Joseph at its helm. It has to reflect
a LOT more than a vision or a nice refined testimony. It's got
to be doing something tangibly for the Kingdom beyond just making
monetary contributions.
Joseph and Daniel both excelled in whatever they did — in
a way that advanced God’s Kingdom while attracting the recognition
and promotion from those in the world around them. Daniel 1:20
describes this dynamic for Daniel and his friends: “In all
matters of wisdom and understanding, the king found them ten times
better than all the astrologers within his realm.”
Ten times better — even when confronted with the best minions
the devil has to offer — that's the distinguishing criteria
for those leading genuine Kingdom enterprises. It is a measure
beyond ability, talent and effort. It will indeed take a LOT of
ability, talent and effort. It also will take a flow of wisdom
from above to navigate the virgin territory where spiritual, community
and economic capital merge.
It comes down to a statement I heard as a new believer repeatedly
made by my first pastor: “I can’t, but He can.”
God can and will — through those He has genuinely called.
But it will involve a balance between the basics and walking on
the water for those who are called — and a standard and
faithfulness that emerges having seen God’s intervention
to their lion’s den and fiery furnace encounters. It will
involve wisdom on the timing of when to move as reflected by God’s
admonition to Moses in Exodus 14:15: “Why are you crying
out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Lift up your staff and
divide the sea.”
For the ones called as Kingdom business leaders with a standard
to be ten times better — the foundation is a vital, interactive
prayer life, coupled with the continual washing from God’s
Word. Getting the prayer support of others is always important,
but it can never replace the ongoing, interactive presence of
the Lord in the life of the one called.
David was a kingdom-builder who understood the standard of “ten
times better:” “Lord, You make me wiser than my enemies;
I have more understanding than my teachers, for Your Words are
my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because of
Your Word.” Psalm 119: 98-100
Pharaoh recognized it in Joseph: “Can we find such a one
as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? In as much as God
has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise
as you are.” Genesis 41:38
For those called to change the course of nations and build the
Kingdom of God through Kingdom enterprises — that’s
the standard! For Kingdom business leaders, Deuteronomy 17:18-20
punctuates this high-calling with these words: "The one who
sits on the throne as king, must copy these laws for himself in
a book. He must always keep this copy of the law with him and
read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear
the LORD his God by obeying all the words of the law. This regular
reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if
he is above his people. It will also prevent him from turning
away from God’s Word in the smallest way."
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2005 Copyright Morris Ruddick — info@strategic-initiatives.org
Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN
advisor. Since 1997 the Josephs Network has been a parallel initiative
of the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN). SIGN is a
team of prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level
issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information
check: www.strategicintercession.org
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